Author: Georgia McKoy

In Stamford, Connecticut, the school board has made a significant decision to keep schools open on both Veterans Day and Columbus Day. This change will be effective for the next two school years. The Stamford Advocate reports that students at Stamford public schools will no longer have these days off, marking a notable shift in the traditional holiday schedule observed in many other districts. The Rationale Behind Removing Holidays from the Calendar Source: Freepik Board member Joshua Esses introduced the motion to remove these holidays from the school calendar. His rationale was that the school year extended too far into…

Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, has publicly endorsed a speech by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is a candidate for the 2024 presidential election. In the speech, Kennedy criticized the voting habits of the Baby Boomer generation and praised Joe Rogan, a popular podcast host. Kennedy Jr.’s Critique of Baby Boomer Media Consumption Source: Getty Images Kennedy addressed the issue of media consumption among Baby Boomers, implying that their reliance on traditional news sources might limit their perspective, Newsweek reports. He said, “They have a disability, which is they only get their news from ABC, NBC, CNN,…

A Biden administration official previously sparked widespread discussion by suggesting that gas stoves could be banned due to their link to childhood asthma. This statement set off a wave of reactions across the nation, reflecting deep concerns about potential regulatory overreach and public health implications. Gas Stoves Remain Unaffected Source: pixabay/Pexels The Biden administration has now clarified its stance, ensuring the public that gas stoves are not under threat of being banned. CNN Business reports that the U.S. Energy Department affirmed that 97% of gas stoves already comply with the new energy efficiency standards, alleviating fears among consumers and industry…

The year 2024 is set to face political and economic uncertainties, particularly due to U.S. government spending in regions like Ukraine and the Middle East, Numismatic News reports. These geopolitical factors contribute to the unpredictability of the economic landscape, which can indirectly affect the market for rare coins. The Effect of Economic Challenges on Investing in Coins Source: Osman Rana/Unsplash In economically challenging times, collectible coins are often sold to cover necessary expenses.  An expert in the field from Numismatic News stated, “Numismatic purchases are discretionary,” meaning their acquisition often comes after essential needs. This suggests that in tough economic…

Blue Spring State Park in Florida witnessed a historic gathering of manatees. Nearly 1,000 of these marine mammals, often referred to as sea cows, converged at the park, surpassing the previous record.  On New Year’s Day 2024, a total of 736 manatees was recorded, but this new assembly has dwarfed that number. The park shared this extraordinary occurrence on Facebook, noting the unprecedented number of manatees in one location. Cold Weather Triggers Manatee Movement Source: geoff trodd/Unsplash The gathering of these typically solitary animals has been attributed to a drop in water temperatures, according to the BBC.  The temperature in…

In east-central Oregon, within the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, a remarkable discovery has been made: a pod of fossilized eggs, dating back 29 million years. Prior discoveries of individual eggs in the area led to misidentification, but this new find sheds light on the true nature of these ancient specimens. Use of Advanced Imaging Techniques Source: NCI/Unsplash To gain a deeper understanding of these ancient eggs, scientists employed a micro-CT scanner to image the fossils. According to CNN, the scans have revealed not only the remarkable age of the eggs but also its probable creator: a grasshopper. The…

Target has been making concerted efforts to embrace diversity and expand its customer base, but these initiatives have often placed it in opposition to the right-wing anti-woke movement. The company’s decision in 2016 to allow customers to use bathrooms matching their gender identity gained significant backlash. In response to the controversy, Target installed single-person bathrooms in all its stores, accommodating anyone seeking privacy, including transgender individuals not comfortable using multiperson bathrooms. This move resulted in a 7% drop in sales, raising questions about the impact of such policies. Controversy Surrounding Pride Month Merchandise Source: Getty Images In 2023, Target faced…

Rob Schneider, a comedian, publicly announced his decision to stop flying with United Airlines due to concerns over the airline’s prioritization of diversity over safety. In a message posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, to United’s CEO Scott Kirby, he stated, “I regret to inform you that I will no longer allow my family to fly on your airline.” The 2022 Flight Incident Referenced Source: Wikimedia Commons In his post, Schneider referenced a specific incident involving United Airlines. He brought attention to a near-fatal accident during a flight in late 2022, implying it could have been prevented with different…

Amazon’s Ring has decided to stop allowing police departments to request doorbell camera footage from users. This marks the end of the “Request for Assistance” feature in the Neighbors app, a development that has drawn attention due to its impact on privacy. The company hasn’t specified the reasons for this change but confirmed its implementation starting this week. Limited Police Interaction in the Neighbors App Source: Kenny Eliason/Unsplash The Associated Press reports that following this change, law enforcement agencies will still retain some level of interaction within the Neighbors app. Eric Kuhn, head of Neighbors, said in the statement, “Police…

The end of the pandemic pause on student loan payments in October revealed a striking trend: approximately 40% of borrowers with bills due didn’t make their payments. This figure might not capture the entire scenario, as it likely excludes those affected by servicer errors. The pause, initially a relief measure, has highlighted ongoing financial challenges for many borrowers. Financial Hardship at the Core of Non-Payment Source: Dylan Gillis/Unsplash The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia sheds light on why borrowers are struggling. They revealed that more than half of borrowers who didn’t make a payment in October, including some who were…